Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is often used for what are called “thermal” burn cases (commonly known as second-and third-degree burns).

Thermal burns are caused by any external heat source, such as a flame from an open fireplace, a house fire, a scald from steam or hot liquid, or direct contact with a hot object such as an oven rack or stove.

One of the most serious consequences is the threat of infection, which can lead to illness or even death.

While traditional medicine often calls for the use of antibiotics when treating burns, they might not work against bacteria that have developed a resistance to drugs.

In third-degree burns, the initial injury is followed by tissue loss. This means that the surrounding tissue also becomes damaged because blood vessels have been destroyed.

When this happens, downstream blood flow from the site is stopped, which creates further tissue death due to a lack of oxygen.

At this point, the body does not recognize the tissue as its own and perceives it as a harmful invader. This jeopardized tissue becomes a target for the immune system, which “attacks” the dying and surrounding tissues, resulting in even more tissue death.

HBOT should be given within the first 48 to 72 hours to prevent the tissue damage from spreading beyond the initial area.

By supplying the body with added oxygen—up to 12 times that of breathing air at sea level—the damaged area can be brought “back to life.”

Hyperbaric oxygen signals to the body that the tissue is no longer a foreign invader, allowing the normal wound-healing processes to take place.